February 27, 2003-
I have just now heard the sad news of Fred Rogers' death from stomach cancer at age 74. It came as more of a blow than I would have expected.
I can add nothing new to the accolades heaped on his program. While some would draw divisive contrasts between his show and other children's educational programming, I can only say that "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" was as important to my development at a certain age as any others. Sandwiched (in my PBS market) between "Sesame Street" and "The Electric Company" (both of which I also adored) on weekday afternoons, it was the first television show I responded to, and the first of the three I outgrew. For very young children, there was no more valuable an introduction to the use of one's imagination.
His shows are in the vault, and his work will live on, for now, but I know that as time wears on, he will gradually fade from public consciousness, as reruns of the show fail to get scheduled. Sad but perhaps inevitable.
Mr. Rogers helped raise me. My childrens' upbringing will be the poorer for lack of that nurturing.
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